Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-31
CHICAGO,S GREAT LOCKOUT.
The Present Week a Critical Period In
the Big Strike Of the Building Trades

A dispatch from Chicago says: The next six
days are liable to witness the critical period In
the great strike OF the building trades For four
weeks strike has followed strike, terminating In
lockout affecting TO q greater or less extent
almost every trade In the city OF Chicago. Fully
IIoOo men are Idle, and, II is stated upon good
authority, that over 1000 frst-class mechanics
have left the city. A careful estimate shows that
wages TO the amount OF $500, 600 have been lost
10 the strikers 1t is impossible TO estimate the
amount OF capital which has been diverted from
the building trades Well-known Eastern capt.
tallsts have instructed their Chicago agents TO
MAKE no investments pending the adjustment OF
the strike and In several cases large enterprises
VIII be dropped until next year and perhaps for
ever.
The master masons realizing that so long as the
Trades unions were governed by their present laws
ana customs, the strike was liable to be duplicated
at any time, resolved TO make a supreme effort TO
force the abolition OF the abuses OF which they
We're conspicuous victims. The code OF principles
ana working rules adopted would, IL enforced, re-
suit In complete abolition or the unions as now
constituted. The developments OF the last week
have demonstrated that II this is accomplished II
must be done by the master masons They formu-
lated the plan or campaign, and have asked the
kindred trades to tndorSe their code OF principles
and follow in their footsteps The response that
appeal was not SO enthusiastic as was expected by
Messrs. Prussing, Downey, Tappen and other prom
1nent contracting maSOns. The master carpenters
adopted the platform but nulified their action by
refusing to set any date upon which It was TO go
into eject. The recollection OF desperate strug-
gle with their men, in which the honors were adj
mitted to be even, had restraining effect upon
this powerful organization. resolution viii be
offered at the next meeting OF the master carpen-
tiers making nine hours days work, but from
present indications IL Will be defeated.
The conservative element in both master masons
and carpenters Is composed OF those contractors
almost entirely dependent upon union labor. In
many cases another protracted strike means bank
ruptcy TO the smaller contracting carpenter.
Many OF the leading master carpenters are own
ers OF SASH door, blind and planning mills the
ership or which gives them great advantage In a
strike or lockout. An analysis OF the situation
proves that the strike has resolved itself into a
contest between the master masons and their en-
poyeS, the brtcklayerS and hod-carriers, who have
formed an offensive and defensive alliance. The
other trades represented in the Builders and
Traders Exchange are in a state OF armed neutral
ity and while in active sympathy with the
master masOns, are afraid to render any practical
support. The master masons will depend almost
entirely upon bricklayers from other cities. The
next few days Will demonstrate to what extent
th1S\Durce can be utilized. The answers TO the
advertisements Saturday were encouraging and IL
Is believed that plenty OF good men can be secured
The leaders OF the bricklayers promise that no
violence Will be offered TO any OF the imported
bricklayers. Every effort will be used, however,
to induce the corners TO join the union and all
the straUeg1eS OF modern strikes will he brought
into play.